Building Rocky from Project Hail Mary (And Why I Couldn't Not)

So... I hadn't planned to blog this but I keep seeing Project Hail Mary videos and photos online (my algorithm knows what I'm liking right now)... then I found the most adorable LEGO MOC and I had an idea for a reel... then decided it needed to be a post. Currently LEGO Rocky lives on my desk and he's the perfect companion for rubber duck debugging.

Prefacing this by saying I'm a huge sci-fi fan. I absolutely adored Michael Crichton books in high school and am living the dream as so many of my favorite authors are recently doing tv shows... if you want recommendations Dark Matter, Silo, and Foundation.

Background

The Book

Back when I read The Martian in 2016 I couldn't put it down... though I realize when writing this that I apparently still haven't watched the movie... I guess add to the list. Which is why when Andy Weir next came out with Artemis I jumped onto Goodreads to add it to my list and noticed something odd. There were already reviews. A lot of them. And they all mentioned NetGalley. I had no idea what that was, so I looked into it, created an account, requested Artemis, and got approved. That was how I discovered book ARCs... and got to read Project Hail Mary back in February 2021 before it was officially released. Looking back I had declared in my review that it was my favorite book of that year. Without sinking time into seeing what else I read that year I'll simply go with let's say that.

The Science

As an aside I needed to share the science of Andy Weir. I absolutely love how every aspect of his books brings it in. Artemis seems to be less regarded than the other two but looking back at my review for it I had mentioned the "random interesting facts spread throughout the book [like that] coffee and tea are an acquired taste on the moon as water boils at 61 degrees Celsius so your drinks don't get as hot as on Earth."

The Movie

I somehow didn't realize there was a movie until shortly before it came out... but when I did it was so obvious and I quickly fell down the Instagram algorithm well. So much content! Which I'm fine with as I mad the connection that my mother-in-law was staying with us over opening weekend and so Matt and I should go see it. We chose the Saturday matinee, adored it, and found a burger place after for supper.

It had been a while since I read the book, and I did wander into comparison posts on Instagram ahead of time... which is always a risky move. That said, I loved the movie. It absolutely lived up to the book, and where it differs it does so in ways that work on screen. My one thing, and a lot of people seem to agree, is that I really miss the science. The original cut was apparently longer and I would be totally fine streaming the entire thing at home.

The Algorithm

After, and honestly before, the algorithm did its thing and my Instagram feed filled up with Project Hail Mary content and then focused on Rocky... and I let it. Before the movie I had ordered the official LEGO Hail Mary set but it's backordered and the wait is unbearable. I then came across Jordan DeVries @theastralbricks on Instagram who took the LEGO Creator Cute Bunny set and turned it into Rocky! I saw he sold it on Rebrickable so I checked online for the bunny set and saw, at that time it wasn't on LEGO or Amazon but it was on Target. I thought about it for a hot second then immediately made a reBrickable account so I could buy the instructions ($3).

The Audiobook

With the movie hype the audiobook is also being pushed. That said, over the years, I've repeatedly heard it being recommended and it seemed to be the number one rated audiobook. I'd ignored the hype as I normally don't re-read books but after the movie I wanted to and figured this way I can listen to Rocky sing. So before building I had to buy it.

The Build

I had planned to wait and build Rocky at the same times as the official set while listening to the audiobook... but my algorithm knew what I wanted and LEGO listed it as a 60 day backorder (just checked and same with the bunny) and I couldn't resist. So I bought the audiobook, broke into the kit, poured a drink, and made my Rocky.

Let's Go

Since it was a MOC (My Own Creation versus official LEGO) I realized the bag ordering didn't matter and opened all three bags at once which felt a little chaotic.

For the instructions I started reading it on my reMarkable since it was an electronic PDF download... but then I realized the e-ink colors were faded and I was having trouble telling beige, white, and two shades of grey apart. The green made my decision. So I switched to my phone which helped a bit and then, when almost done, I realized I had Accessibility Color Filters turned on (Grayscale, 60%). Once I turned that off the instructions were easy to follow.

The build itself was surprisingly simple and satisfying. The only issues (see above) where on my side) My girls love Rocky, despite not having watched him yet, and he now has a permanent spot on my desk, which I did not plan but also did not resist. He's become my rubber duck for debugging sessions which somehow feels right.

Cute Bunny

Figured I should mention that the box and instructions for the original 3-in-1 creator kit (bunny, seal, and deer) are adorable in their own rights... I almost felt bad for ignoring them.... almost. Also just realizing I didn't use any of the plant-related pieces (I think) so I could go back and make accessories.

LEGO & Beyond

Plus quick aside... this isn't my first LEGO related blog post. Those can be found here and range from birthday party themes, sewn projects, crayons, and even three versions of a Bonsai tree.

What's Next

I plan to make the audiobook last (Matt recommended I decrease the speed down to 1x) and although I'm only in Chapter 4 (making myself wait for the official set to return to the book) I'm already rediscovering details I'd forgotten. Like the fact that to get the astrophage sample to Grace three countries worked together to land in Saskatchewan and fly it directly to San Francisco. As a Canadian (now living in the US) finding Canada unexpectedly in a book I love is always a small delight.

I can't wait for the official kit to arrive so I can dive into the LEGO details while enjoying whatever detail I'll be delighted to rediscover this time.

If you haven't read the book yet... it's a good one. The movie is worth seeing... debating streaming it with the family when it comes out. And so far the audiobook is good too.

And with that I bid you an epic day... and leave you with some photos of Rocky...

... me and Rocky...

... and this reel.